190 REMINISCENCES OF A HUNTSMAN 



tion, consist of the great grey goose : after that the grey geese 

 ahiiost entii-ely disappear, and the white-fronted goose fills their 

 place. This change, though the geese are narrowly watched, 

 and a report of their numhers frequently returned to the castle, 

 is never seen to take place ; no flights are observed to come and 

 go, but the flocks apparently remain stationary, though the grey 

 goose leaves the ground. There have been occasional instances 

 of white geese appearing among them, to which the cow-herds 

 or farmers' men have approached so near that they could be sure 

 of the species ; but, from no crafty steps having been taken to 

 kill them, these rare specimens have hitherto escaped. I have 

 often availed myself of different disguises to obtain a shot at 

 deer ; and, by dressing as a woman in a red cloak, I have in- 

 spected a herd, and selected the finest buck at foiiy yards' 

 distance. The same herd would not have let me come within a 

 mile of them had I been in my usual attire. "What then should 

 hinder the same fact applying to wild-geese, when it is evident 

 that they fear not the cow-herds and shepherds, to whose sight 

 they are accustomed ? I know that one excuse for not shooting 

 at them in the most killing way, is, a fear of disgusting them 

 with, or scaring them away from, their haunts. There would 

 be much in this fear, if the plan was not used in moderation ; 

 but a stalk at them now and then would not have the dreaded 

 effect. 



Having taken up my residence at Beacon Lodge, in Hamp- 

 shire, the first thing that I looked to was the sport to be had in 

 its vicinity. The late Lord Stuart de Rothesay conceded to 

 me the shooting and preservation of the two farms attached to 

 Highcliife ; and, in addition to this, I received the Royal licence 

 to shoot game in the New Forest. I also had unlimited leave 

 from the late Sir George Jervis to shoot when I pleased over 

 Hinton Admiral, and his farms lying at Christchurch Head and 

 Wick ; and Sir George Rose gave me the shooting over his land. 

 I must say, that of all places I ever was in, where all were masters 

 and no men, I never met with anything like the insubordinate 

 state of the vicinity of Beacon Lodge. There was a notorious 



